MISCELLANEOUS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 286, 23 March 1877, Page 4

MISCELLANEOUS.

"KrfcOSO—' VERY WRONG. j We take the following from the Dnnedirt CfuttrtUctn : —" A good story is told of some railway navvies in Ireland who struck work became a careful enginedriver stopped his engine from running down an unpopular mag strate. They demanded the driver's dismissal, and were only prevailed upon to resume work on I n promising never to do the like on any future occasion. An express - driver, name*! Thomas Mackridge, wh«» fenred at the Police Court y«sferday, evidently considers he has realised treatment similar to that of the Irish engine-driver. A fort night ago, while driving over the railway crossing at South I>imwlin, he saved the lives of a hirgt? property-holder, and enabled a tourist to prosecute his nitin- ' dane travels l»y the adventitious application of the whip just as a pilot-engine was on the point of shaving otf the tail-board of his vehicle. An agitation f. r railway gates commenced by the residents has been : m.;t by the railway authorities instituting : proce :«ltng» against the mducky expressman for daring to obstruct their peripatetic two imotive. The EL-neh took a night to consider their judgment, and yesterday Air. Logan pronounced it. Instead of recommending the expressman's brave conduct to the kindly consideration of the Royal Humane Society, fie concluded a dissertation mi the dangerous nature of wandering engims a»»d unprotected crossings by tnrttettng a utte ,of 20s. ' That'* what I get for saving two lives/ said the astonbacd defendant. 4 .Don't do it again,' remarked a facetious listener, and : EheCoort was eonvulsett with ill-suppressed : merriment." ABE YOC? TEES EI>tTOK f Recently (says the- H'inwrmnm Xeatda fajivtL',-) as the editor of this paper was quietly attending to his business, I». A. Bitckner came in and t xeitedly asked—"'Are yon the editor of t.ds p"perf" We answered, " Yes." II.; then drew out a whistler, and pointing it in our vicinity, snapped :t. We instantly threw him down, the stove going over at the same time. We stooprd down, and began to wipe the tfoor with his cowardly carcase, not noticing the pistol which he was still trying to nar. A printer jumped in and took the pistol from Uuekner. when we allowed hem to get up, and ordered hiin to go <utt of do«rs. lie picked up a ruler about 20 inches long, and undertook to strike as with rt. but was prevented by our gentle grip upon his windpipe. In shoving towards the door, we shoved htm throvtgn the glass, a fragment of which ent » small gash in the editorial scalp. The Art ete that we suppose the superannuated old fool took oit'eticj at called no names, and was a matter of common street talk, and was published as an item of news. We shatE continue to publish all items we come across, regardless of who they hit, and thereafter be prepared to ds fend ourselves against whoever comes to assassinate us. We retract nothing, nor are we sorry for the mertry shown an "uhl man." '• Lay on, MaeDutFl and hanged be he who first cries hold I enough." The " old man" left his howitzer on the field of battle, and can have the same by calling, proving property, paying damages, and apologising for bis cowardly attempt at assassination. GKRX-l OF E>t.-if7V-tK IX T.VN'K WATER. Some valuable and suggestive hints as to the prob;i'r>te origin of disease in many cases are afforded by a report which ha 3 been presented to the Chief Secretary of Victoria, by Mr. Xvwbery, assisted by Mr. Manly Hopwood, has been examining a number of samples of tank water collected frotn districts around Melbourne, which, not having the Yan Yean, are compelled to depend on tanks fur their sttpply. Without touching the question as to whether the water could sow the germs of specific diseases, it is quite evident from the report that much of it Wrt3 found to be in a stats? utterly unfit for human consumption. The arrangements were, in many cases, its bad as it wa3 pO3ble to imagine. The roof, gutters, and piping were allowed to collect all kinds of rubbish and filth, which on a shower of rain was carried into the tank. Besides this, tt wus found, in many cases, that the outlet pipes were so connected with sinks, I or cesspools, or drains, as to allow the access of font gases into the tank, there to be absorbed by the water. In some cases drainage could find its way into the tank. The consequences were in accordance with these conditions, and the water proved to contain the germs of bacteria ar.u fungoid growth. It certainly seems strange that in the cases of houses constructed by skilled architects, and occupied by intelligent, educated people, there is ito assurance that the laws of health will not be recklessly and wantonly violated unless a Government official is sent to inspect the arrangements concerning even so simple a matter as the supply of drinking-w.iter.